What Happened: South Korea's central bank has cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent, its lowest since June 2016, Yonhap reported Oct. 16. Although the bank didn't revise its annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast, its governor warned of slower economic growth that may drop below 2 percent for the year.
Why It Matters: South Korea has remained relatively cautious in its rate-cutting policy over fears of fueling capital outflow, currency weakness and a potential property bubble in Seoul. However, continued sluggish growth due to low global demand, a slowdown in China's economy and a cyclical downturn in the semiconductor industry have forced South Korea to react.
Background: South Korea's GDP grew at 2.67 percent in 2018, but is expected to slow to 2.55 percent in 2019. Seoul has already downgraded its growth target from 2.6-2.7 percent to 2.4-2.5 percent due to weakening export numbers and in June, its currency hit its lowest level since early 2017.
Read More:
- South Korea's Economic Doldrums Have Taken the Wind Out of Moon's Sails (Oct. 4, 2019)
- Seoul and Tokyo Stare Each Other Down (July 18, 2019)
- As the U.S.-China Tech War Rages on, the Electronics Industry Braces for Impact (March 29, 2019)
